Functional responsibility:
The principal responsibilities of the Committee were periodic inspection of social care facilities that were operated by or received all or part of their operating funds directly or indirectly from the provincial government, and investigation of complaints by a resident of any such facility regarding their treatment and/or the standards of accommodation received by that person or any other person in that facility.
The Committee had the ability to appoint sub-committees to perform any or all of the duties and functions and exercise those powers of the Committee granted by the Committee. The Committee also had the right to appoint any one member or, with the permission of the Minister to which the Board reported, an employee of the ministry as a complaint officer for the purpose of investigating complaints received by the Committee.
Institutions that came under the authority of the Committee included places of care for the aged or infirm, an institution or shelter as defined in Part 2 of The Child Welfare Act, and men's hostels. In 1985, an amendment to the Social Care Facilities Review Committee Act added emergency shelters, residential alcohol and drug abuse treatment centres, day care facilities licensed under the Social Care Facilities Licensing Act, and group homes, shelters or vocational rehabilitation and training centres for physically or mentally handicapped persons.
In 1997, the mandate of the Committee was changed. The Committee became responsible for conducting quality of service reviews in social care facilities funded by the department.

Predecessor and successor bodies:
The inspection functions of the Social Care Facilities Review Committee were previously performed by officers of the departments of Public Welfare, Social Development, Health and Social Services and Social Services and Community Health pursuant to the Welfare Homes Act, 1963 c. 73 and the Social Care Facilities Licensing Act, 1977 c. 91.

Administrative relationships:
The Committee reported to the Minister of Social Services and Community Health (1980-86), the Minister of Social Services (1986-89), the Minister of Family and Social Services (1989-99) and the Minister of Children's Services (1999-present). The Committee's annual report is submitted by the Minister to the Legislative Assembly.

Administrative structure:
The Committee was made up of not more than 12 individuals appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. The Lieutenant Governor in Council appoints one member chairman and one other member vice-chairman.

Names of chief officers:
Chairmen of the Social Care Facilities Review Committee:
Dr. David Carter 1980-1986
Ms. Janet Koper 1986-1989
Mr. Roy Brassard 1989
Mr. Walter Paszkowski 1989-1993
Mr. Roy Brassard 1993-1997
Mr. Shiraz Shariff 1997-2001
Ms. Cindy Ady, MLA 2001-present